Bury Football Club have named former Gigg Lane favourite Alan Knill as their new manager. Knill made 144 appearances for Bury as a central defender between 1989 and 1993. He joins the club from Chesterfield FC, where he held the post of assistant manager since being sacked as Rotherham manager in March 2007.
Bolton Wanderers are setting up an experimental singing section at the Reebok Stadium at for the UEFA Cup match against Athletico Madrid on February 14. Commercial Director Gareth Moores said, ‘We’ve had a large number of calls and emails from fans asking us to consider providing such an area. As a result, the club has responded by allocating the Debt Matters North Stand as a trial for this crucial European fixture. It is going to be one of the biggest games in the club’s history and having a singing section can only add to the atmosphere.’
If the move is successful the club plans to make the North Stand a dedicated singing stand from the start of the 2008/09 season.
Plans to redevelop Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park stadium were given the go ahead by Oldham Council’s planning committee last night. In November councillors had rejected the proposals, sparking demonstrations by supporters.
Jubilant Chief Executive Alan Hardy said, ‘It’s something the fans deserve, because for years they’ve been going to other towns and seeing the benefit of rebuilt and redeveloped stadia. This is almost as good as getting to the Wembley in the League Cup Final and FA Cup semi-finals, but this redevelopment is important because it’s about the future. It’s not to do with the past, this is about looking ahead and hopefully Oldham Athletic will now have a bright future to look forward to.’
Preston North End FC has appointed Everton assistant coach Alan Irvine as their new manager after a compensation deal was agreed by the two clubs. Irvine replaces Paul Simpson, sacked last week after a poor run of results in the Championship. Candidates rumoured to be lined up for the vacant position at Everton include Newcastle coach Steve Round and Brian Kidd, currently assistant manager at Sheffield United.
Around 2,000 Oldham Athletic fans gathered at Oldham Civic Centre today to demonstrate against Oldham Borough Council’s rejection of plans to redevelop the club’s stadium. After hearing speeches from Chief Executive Alan Hill and others, the fans marched to Boundary Park to watch their team draw 1-1 with Port Vale.
Burnley Football Club has announced that manager Steve Cotterill has left the club by ‘mutual consent’. The club currently stand 15th in the Championship, having won just one of their last ten matches. Assistant manager Steve Davis will take charge of the match against Leicester City on Saturday.
Construction of Liverpool Football Club’s new stadium is expected to commence in the first half of 2008 after the city council approved revised plans yesterday. The new stadium at Stanley Park is now expected to open in time for the 2011-12 football season.
Wigan businessman Dave Whelan has sold his stake in rugby league team Wigan Warriors to Harlequins chairman Ian Lenagan. The deal, which becomes effective on December 1, will see Joe Lydon appointed as chief executive with Brian Noble remaining as head coach. Millionaire Lenagan was born in Wigan and made his fortune in computer software.
Bolton Wanderers and manager Sammy Lee parted company yesterday by ‘mutual consent’ just 14 games after the former Liverpool and England midfielder took over from ‘Big’ Sam Allardyce. Lee failed to maintain the success achieved by his predecessor, winning just three of his 14 matches in charge; two of those in cup competitions and only one in the Premiership. Former Wigan Athletic boss Paul Jewell, Chris Coleman, and Wanderers legend Phil ‘Suntan’ Brown are amongst the favourites to succeed him.
Everton fans have given their backing to the club’s proposal to move their stadium to Kirkby. On Friday the club announced that 59% of fans voted in favour of the plans.
The ballot was run by the Electoral Reform Service and was open to season ticket holders, shareholders and fan club members, with just under 26 thousand votes received. It is thought that this is the first time that a major European football club has handed over such a significant decision to its supporters.